Review of 67 patients with autoimmune pancreatitis in Korea: a multicenter nationwide study.
OBJECTIVE
The ideal diagnostic criteria of autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) are still challenging. Therefore, we investigated the clinical features of AIP in Korea and assessed the clinical use of new Korean diagnostic criteria.


METHODS
We reviewed 67 patients with AIP enrolled in 16 hospitals via a multicenter study. The diagnosis was confirmed according to the Korean diagnostic criteria that included pancreatic imaging, laboratory findings, histopathology, and response to steroid.


RESULTS
Mean age of the patients was 56 years, and 73% were men. Obstructive jaundice (52%) was the most common symptom, and 14 patients (21%) had other organ involvement. Fifty-four patients (81%) revealed diffuse swelling of the pancreas. Either immunoglobulin (Ig)G or IgG4 was elevated in 76%. According to the Korean criteria, 65 patients had definite diagnostic criteria, and 2 patients had probable criteria. Fifteen patients were fulfilled with image, serological, and histopathologic criteria, and 4 patients could be diagnosed with image and steroid responsiveness. Ten patients experienced recurrent attacks of AIP during the mean 20-month follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
Among 67 cases of AIP, either IgG or IgG4 was elevated in 76% of patients, and 14 patients (21%) had other organ involvement. New Korean diagnostic criteria are useful for diagnosis of AIP.
Ryu
Ji Kon
JK
Autoimmune Pancreatitis Study Group, Korean Society of Pancreatobiliary Diseases, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Chung
Jae Bock
JB
Park
Seung Woo
SW
Lee
Jong Kyun
JK
Lee
Kyu Tack
KT
Lee
Woo Jin
WJ
Moon
Jong Ho
JH
Cho
Kwang Bum
KB
Kang
Dae Whan
DW
Hwang
Jin-Hyeok
JH
Yoo
Kyo-Sang
KS
Yoo
Byung Moo
BM
Lee
Don Hang
DH
Kim
Hae Kyung
HK
Moon
Young Soo
YS
Lee
Jin
J
Lee
Hong Sik
HS
Choi
Ho Sun
HS
Lee
Sung Koo
SK
Kim
Yong-Tae
YT
Kim
Chang Duck
CD
Kim
Sun Joo
SJ
Hahm
Joon Soo
JS
Yoon
Yong Bum
YB
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D002760:Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde; D003951:Diagnostic Errors / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007723:Korea; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013256:Steroids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015854:Up-Regulation; D055815:Young Adult
D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D013256:Steroids